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A letter from Frank and Nancy Dimmock in Lesotho

January 1, 2009

Dear Friends,

A local prophet sat in our living room recently and told us that the Lord had revealed to her that he would be coming very soon, maybe as soon as 2011! She said the signs are coming together and the technology exists to fulfill the prophecies in Revelation. She explained that the “thief in the night” concept will be the experience of unbelievers, but that believers can heed the signs. I don’t know how such news takes you, but I was surprised by the conflicting reaction I had. There was some joy and even relief, but plenty of disbelief and fear, and some thoughts about all I would miss in this life and in the lives of my children. While I am not convinced that Jesus will actually return in 2011, the “what if” is a good wake up call. If He is coming that soon, how should we then live? What should our lives be about?

It is a question we put to our children on New Year’s Eve. What should we be doing if Jesus is coming soon? Our 4-year-old’s answer was perhaps the most profound. He said, “we should clean up!” Yes. What needs to be cleaned up—in your life and mine? What needs to be cleaned up in our world? Let’s be involved in that clean up—in preparation for His imminent return.

2008 was an interesting year. As we shared in our September newsletter, it involved a great deal of personal grief as we experienced the death of six close friends and relatives. But there was joy, too. In fact, the whole continent erupted with unrestrained joy on the morning of November 5, when it was announced that Barak Obama had been elected president of the United of States. I was in Malawi and Frank was in Lesotho on that particular day, and in both places there was spontaneous dancing in the streets and wide grins and joyous handshakes and hugs among strangers. His election profoundly encouraged, profoundly lifted spirits, profoundly inspired confidence among a people who have been “put down” for generations. Now he needs our prayers. A dear pastor friend shared a list of prayer requests for President Obama and his family and we share it here with you.

Ten things to pray for the Obama family

Pray for Obama’s protection from racial hatred.

Cover his wife and daughters in prayer as they face invasive cameras, nosy reporters, maniacal fans, and dangerous enemies.

Pray that Obama will govern with God’s wisdom, prioritizing his life as Solomon did.

Ask God to keep our president humble as a guard against corruption.

Pray for wise and righteous advisers to surround him.

Ask for the spirit of reconciliation so that leaders on all political levels can have constructive dialogue.

Pray that Obama will adopt pro-life convictions. Many politicians have changed their views on key issues while in office. In the 1800s some leaders who favored slavery later denounced it. In the 1950s some who opposed racial integration later became champions of it. Even though Obama won approval from many voters because he sanctions abortion, God could soften and change his heart.

Bind all evil forces assigned to manipulate our president. This is truly a time for spiritual warfare, and intercessors must be faithful in this hour! Pray that no foreign government, terrorist organization or demonic principality will use Obama as a tool.

Pray that Obama’s door will remain open to the church. Pray that Obama, who claims to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, will unapologetically welcome Christian leaders into his company and seek their counsel.

Pray that our nation will enjoy God’s peace and blessing during the Obama administration. As we cry out for God’s mercy on our wayward nation, pray that He will allow us to continue to be a light to the world as we finance global missions, feed and heal the world’s poor, and share Christ’s love at home and abroad.

An update on our children

Nathan is a junior at Montreat College in western North Carolina, studying Bible and missions and loving it. He is due to graduate in 2010. Moses is a senior at the University of North Carolina - Pembroke and will finish up his advanced art classes by December 2009. If all goes according to plan, he’ll be our first to graduate from college, and he and we will celebrate! Jesse is back from a semester in Switzerland and looking forward to continuing at Davidson College in central North Carolina, studying political science and public health policy. After one semester of college, Katie decided that she needs a break from school. She is coming to spend the “spring term” with us, working as an assistant physical education teacher at the international primary school where her four younger siblings attend. We are all looking forward to having this extra time together with Katie. Andrew, Alifa, Isaac, and Jackson start back to school on January 7 and Frank begins his travels on January 9. His first trip will be a malaria intervention assessment in southern Sudan.

Thank you for your continuing prayers and support. They keep us faithful and motivated through the ups and downs of life.